Another month, Another Box! And I love it! ♥
Above is my main picture and I will add the synopsis from the card and pictures of all the things ♥
We have an exclusive edition of "The Last Namsara" by Kristen Ciccarelli. I have the original hardback and this Fairyloot edition has different colors and it's smaller in size ♥
We also have an ARC of Furyborn by Claire Legrand! So Awesome! ♥
We have a freaking awesome book sleeve that is an Exclusive Slay Book Sleeve that features swords and books. How freaking cool is that! We also have a postcard from The Last Namsara and the ladies that slay bookmark and art.
Up next we have an Exclusive Blue's Brew tea. This tea is inspired by Blue Sargent from The Raven Cycle! I love Blue =)
And the sticker is a quote from An Ember in the Ashes!
We have an exclusive Fire Is Catching Badge from the Hunger Games. A pin from This Moral Coil! I ordered that book and I hope it's good =)
And last but definately not least, we have a Hermione Granger candle! Yessssssssssssss! Hermione, gotta love it ♥
I am very happy with this months box. I can't wait until the next months box.
I hope you guys enjoyed the little tour!
Happy Reading!
Mel ♥
The company says
Otherworld is amazing—like nothing you’ve ever seen before. They say
it’s addictive—that you’ll want to stay forever. They promise Otherworld
will make all your dreams come true.
Simon thought Otherworld
was a game. Turns out he knew nothing. Otherworld is the next phase of
reality. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.
And it’s about to change humanity forever.
Welcome to the Otherworld. No one could have seen it coming.@goodreads
There are guys online who swear it was heaven. They still sit around like a bunch of old geezers, swapping tales of epic storms, monstrous beasts and grisly battles. Talk to any gamer in their twenties and at some point they'll say: "You're too young to get it. You never saw Otherworld."
I thought the book was okay enough. I thought it was going to be set mostly in the gaming world like a lot of books are these days. But this book has some gaming and a lot of crazy going on in the real world.
Simon and Kat were best friends since childhood and later on have feelings for each other. But Simon is dragged away to another country with his rich parents and his connection to Kat gets further and further away.
Simon gets himself into trouble so they have to leave the country and move back to their home. Simon's mother and father are both bigwigs in their own right. And I must say they are jerks.
Simon gets inside Otherworld so he can talk to Kat, maybe find out why she's been avoiding him. They connect with each other a little bit but not so much. Even at school, Kat is acting weird. She's hanging out with a bad crowd of boys and other things. Simon knows this isn't Kat and is determined to get to the bottom of it.
When Simon finally gets the story out of Kat and they are trying to get through it all alive, it's a whole other ball game then Simon realized. There are some very corrupt people out there willing to do anything for this game.
I'm not sure if this is going to be a trilogy or a series of books but I would like to know what the end game is going to be.
*Thank you to BloggingForBooks for a print copy of this book.*
Having barely escaped
the clutches of the Guard, Sefia and Archer are back on the run,
slipping into the safety of the forest to tend to their wounds and plan
their next move. Haunted by painful memories, Archer struggles to
overcome the trauma of his past with the impressors, whose cruelty
plagues him whenever he closes his eyes. But when Sefia and Archer
happen upon a crew of impressors in the wilderness, Archer finally finds
a way to combat his nightmares: by hunting impressors and freeing the
boys they hold captive.
With Sefia’s help, Archer travels across
the kingdom of Deliene rescuing boys while she continues to investigate
the mysterious Book and secrets it contains. But the more battles they
fight, the more fights Archer craves, until his thirst for violence
threatens to transform him from the gentle boy Sefia knows to a grim
warrior with a cruel destiny. As Sefia begins to unravel the threads
that connect Archer’s fate to her parents’ betrayal of the Guard so long
ago, she and Archer must figure out a way to subvert the Guard’s plans
before they are ensnared in a war that will pit kingdom against kingdom,
leaving their future and the safety of the entire world hanging in the
balance.@goodreads
The girl is back. The boy is back. The book is back. The magic is back.
*I
have to add that these two books in this series are freaking gorgeous
in person and have the deckle edges. I love to pet them =)
Argo flipped him onto his back, straddled his chest, and raised a hand to strike.
In that moment, the nameless boy understood: This was the end. He was going to die.
He would cease to breathe. Cease to be. Cease to hurt. It would be easy.
But he didn't want to die.
And
knowing that, knowing he wanted to live, however hard it was, however
much it hurt, something opened up inside of him, something hidden and
ugly and powerful.
Argo slowed.
Everything slowed.
••••••••••
Summoning
her Sight again, she flicked her fingers. In the Illuminated world, the
threads of light tightened and sprang back like bowstrings, sending
ripples through the bands of gold. Ten yards away, on the slope leading
toward Cascarra, a dead branch cracked.
Sefia and Archer are back and they make a bad ass team. Poor
Archer is plagued with nightmares of his past, what he was forced to
be, a killer.
Sefia has the book and reading the future and
trying to find help right some wrongs her parents did and together they
will help many.
Sefia and Archer are going around helping to
free kidnapped boys that were forced to become killers or be killed
themselves. They are also trying to put a stop to the evil people that
are doing this. Some bloody battles ensue.
I don't want to say any more because I'm afraid I will leak a spoiler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I
loved this book even more than the first book and I loved it a lot too!
I really hope they can accomplish what they are setting out to do in
the next book. So far they have made a step in the right direction. I
hope! *tiny sob*
Happy Reading! Mel ♥
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2191082325
George is a
middle-management, middle-class, middle-aged guy who hates his job and
struggles to stay connected to his wife and teenage children. Most guys
might end up with a steamy affair and a flashy car for their midlife
crisis, but George gets a quirky, philosophical physics professor named
Shiloh. Trapped with this mysterious misfit on his morning commuter
train, George is dragged into awkward conversations about love, fear,
music, and the meaning of life. Shiloh asks George to beta-test an app
he wrote for the new Apple Watch--and with a free watch included, how
could he say no?
When tragedy strikes, throwing George out of
his uncomfortable comfort zone, he learns that Shiloh's app lets him
journey through alternate versions of his past. As challenges mount in
his own reality, George must make a decision that will change him--and
possibly the entire multiverse--forever. @goodreads
Wow! Who knew Apple had it in them.... 
George
is a middle age man that hates his job and is worried his life with his
wife is getting dull. They have two kids and they are set up okay. I
think wife is a little too bossy but it's the way it should be to a
certain extent =)
One day on the train to work, George meets
Shiloh and has a really great time talking to him. Shiloh is like a
walking encyclopedia < -- some might not know what that is so, like a
walking google of information!
They meet a few more times on
the train and Shiloh asks George to beta his app on the Apple watch. Who
knew a little watch could do so much, or should I say the app.
When
something bad happens in the family George goes back in time to try to
change everything. But things are not what they seem. To be honest I
can't really tell you if this is something I would want or not. I think
it would be great for when you're sad and want to go back but I think it
could also make you sadder. Who knows, keep your creepy watch to
yourself! 
Some of the things in the book made my brain go numb when they talked smart stuff but over all I enjoyed this book.
I
got to know the people and actually cared about them. There were some
really sad things in the book but some of them had happy endings. Mel ♥
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2191923189
1) First and foremost I'm very thankful I have a family that supports me. We are not real close by any means and we snap at each other all of the time. I really wish those things would change, but at the end of the day we are always there for each other. Through thick and thin, through medical problems, through whatever is thrown at us. Thank you mom and dad.
2) I'm extremely thankful for my dog Lucy. She is my best friend in the whole world. Her sweet little face and unconditional love helps with my suicidal tendencies and gives me a smile even when I'm crying. And I love so much when she looks me in the eye with nothing but love. I love our times spent on HER couch all tangled up together with her long legs piled on me. She is a greyhound of course =)
3) I'm thankful that I still have one real life friend in the world that I talk to every day and we watch shows over the phone on speaker. I'm thankful for the couple of real life friends that text from time to time or send an uplifting card.
4) I'm thankful for the true friends I have met on Goodreads that have supported me for a very long time now. Some of those that we have exchanged phone numbers and actually keep in touch. Thankful for the fact that those that are close and that have stayed with me are very kind to me in whatever way they can be. Thankful to those that have emailed messages with me on there and talk about our worries, our fun times, our mental and medical issues and that we don't judge. Love you guys.
5) I'm thankful that even though I don't really go outside any more due to my agoraphobia I can still see the wildlife through the windows and doorways. I can still capture some amazing pictures even though I'm inside. Who says a photographer has to give up!
6) I'm thankful that I'm one of the lovers of nature and I can help animals and wildlife right from my home.
7) I'm thankful that I can see the beauty in little things. Things people would thing is stupid or take for granted. I'm thankful that those things give me wonderful feelings because I don't have many wonderful feelings any more.
8) I'm grateful I can listen to a song and it can transport me to somewhere wonderful or somewhere sad because both of those feelings are amazing in the right context. And the same goes for reading books.
9) I'm grateful I had a wonderful childhood with my grandparents. I miss those days so much. I wish we were all young again and I could start it all over and do it all right. I'm grateful I still have one grandmother even though she's not in the best of health.
10) I grateful that I can have empathy with others and a good heart. I'm not grateful for my anger issues and other things along those lines. But hopefully these things can change.
11) I'm grateful for really cold days because I can go outside and not panic and maybe even take a small hike with my dad and dog. I'm grateful for those cold sunny days and the cold crisp smell in the air, which I don't get enough of a smell of since I wear a mask.
12) I'm thankful right now for being able to look out he window as I write and see the wind slowly blow through the leaves that are left on the trees. It's a surreal and calming feeling.
13) I'm grateful for all of the truly nice people in the world. The people that do things that matter, that help with wildlife and people in need. The people that are out there trying to take care of our planet before it's gone. The people that are so kind in a world that is not always kind.
There are many more things I could add but I'm going to stop on my lucky number. Peace be with you and I hope you have a very wonderful Thanksgiving. And for those that have no one, I hope you find someone or something nice for yourself on that day.
Mel ♥
The reason these two wonderful books have mini reviews is because I didn't think I would like them so I listened to them on audio. They both qualified for challenges on Goodreads so I thought I will listen to them. I can't do a proper review the first time around listening to something. I only do audio primarily for re-reads and books I don't think I will love. Well, I loved these two. I am going to get the physical copies of these books to own and re/read =)
Growing up, Cassie
Carter and her sisters, Karen and Nichole, were incredibly close --
until one fateful event drove them apart. After high school, Cassie ran
away from home to marry the wrong man, throwing away a college
scholarship and breaking her parents’ hearts. To make matters worse,
Cassie had always been their father’s favorite -- a sentiment that
weighed heavily on her sisters and made Cassie’s actions even harder to
bear.
Now thirty-one, Cassie is back in Washington, living in
Seattle with her daughter and hoping to leave her past behind. After
ending a difficult marriage, Cassie is back on her own two feet, the
pieces of her life slowly but surely coming together. Despite the
strides Cassie’s made, she hasn’t been able to make peace with her
sisters. Karen, the oldest, is a busy wife and mother, balancing her
career with raising her two children. And Nichole, the youngest, is a
stay-at-home mom whose husband indulges her every whim. Then one day,
Cassie receives a letter from Karen, offering what Cassie thinks may be a
chance to reconcile. And as Cassie opens herself up to new
possibilities -- making amends with her sisters, finding love once more
-- she realizes the power of compassion, and the promise of a fresh
start. @goodreads
I absolutely loved this book! I loved the characters, the story line and lets be real, I want to jump through the book cover because it's beautiful!
This is for sure going to be one bought, re/read, and put on my bookshelf!
Short story collection Anything Is Possible explores the whole range of human emotion through the intimate dramas of people struggling to understand themselves and others.
Here
are two sisters: one trades self-respect for a wealthy husband while
the other finds in the pages of a book a kindred spirit who changes her
life. The janitor at the local school has his faith tested in an
encounter with an isolated man he has come to help; a grown daughter
longs for mother love even as she comes to accept her mother’s happiness
in a foreign country; and the adult Lucy Barton (the heroine of My Name Is Lucy Barton) returns to visit her siblings after seventeen years of absence.
@goodreads
Once again, here is another wonderful book that I read first on audio. I didn't think I would like it and I was only reading it for a Goodreads challenge and ended up loving it. I had no idea this was a second book, the first being Lucy Barton. Of course now I want to buy both physical copies and add them to my shelves.
I think by now, I need to stop thinking I'm not going to like something because many times I'm pleasantly surprised. Sometimes I judge books by their covers and that can get you in trouble quick as well!
**I loved both books so very much and I'm glad I had that Goodreads challenge or I would have missed out!
Happy Reading!
Mel ♥
The eagerly awaited sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Words of Radiance, from an epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson at the top of his game.
In Oathbringer, the third volume of the New York Times
bestselling Stormlight Archive, humanity faces a new Desolation with
the return of the Voidbringers, a foe with numbers as great as their
thirst for vengeance.
Dalinar Kholin's Alethi armies won a
fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the
violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in
its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the
horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a
desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed
must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the
parshmen may be wholly justified.
Nestled in the mountains high
above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar
investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights
Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar
realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too
narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside
Dalinar's blood-soaked past and stand together--and unless Dalinar
himself can confront that past--even the restoration of the Knights
Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization.@goodreads
CHECK OUT MY FREAKING PICTURES AFTER THE GIFS Y'ALL! OMG! ♥
Let
simply start with the book itself before I show the freaking freaking
freaking awesome inside pictures and map on the dust jacket! I'm am
freaking happy! 
I got the pre-order from Audible BUT I was waiting to read this beautiful book and listen at the same time. ♥
PART ONE ~ UNITED ~ DALINAR * SHALLAN * KALADIN * ADOLINI'm
going to do a series of excerpts from each person. I'm not going to say
what is going on or from what year. I want to keep it a little
mysterious. Although, there will be some funny parts. There will
probably be *****SPOILERS***** in some of the excerpts so if you
haven't read the book just skip this or if you don't plan on reading the
book and want to read the randomness, then be my guest. I decided to
only do this for the first part of the book and the rest will be my
regular review. So, lets crack on with it!
DALINAR
Dalinar Kholin appeared in the vision standing beside the memory of a dead god.
***
Only
six days had passed since their discovery of Urithiru. Six days since
the awakening of the Parshendi, who had gained strange powers and
glowing red eyes. Six days since the arrival of the new storm--the
Everstorm, a tempest of the dark thunderheads and red lightening.
***
"And the Voidbringers?" Dalinar asked.
"They
came to annihilate," Kalami said. "Their goal to wipe humankind from
Roshar. They were specters, formless--some say they are spirits of the
dead, others spren from Damnation."
***
A single awespren
burst around around Dalinar, like a ring of blue smoke. "Stormfather!
Thakka, before today, I'd have bet you half the princedom that such a
shot wasn't possible." He turned to the archer. "What's your name,
assasin?"
The man raised his chin, but didn't reply.
"Well, in any case, welcome to my elites," Dalinar said. "Someone get the fellow a horse."
"What?" the archer said. "I tried to kill you!"
"Yes, from a distance. Which shows remarkably good judgement. I can make use of someone with your skills."
***
"They can write?" Navani pressed. "The Voidbringers themselves are sending you contracts?"
***
Dalinar's
shoulder protested as he stretched. He had found middle age to be like
an assassin--quiet, creeping along behind him. Much of the time he would
go about his life as he always had, until an unexpected ache or pain
gave warning. He was not the youth he had once been.
***
Dalinar remembered.
Her
name was Evi. She'd been tall and willowy, with pale yellow hair--not
true golden, like the hair of the Iriali, but striking in its own right.
***
"Anyone?" Dalinar said. "You can show them to anyone?"
During
a storm, I can approach anyone I choose, the Stormfather said. But you
do not have to be in a storm, so you can join a vision in which I have
placed someone else, even if you are distant.
Storms! Dalinar bellowed a laugh.
What have I done? the Stormfather asked.
"You've just solved my problems!"
The problem from The Way of Kings?
"No,
the greater one. I've been wishing for a way to meet with the other
monarchs in person." Dalinar grinned. "I think that in a coming
highstorm, Queen Fen of Thaylenah is going to have a quite remarkable
experience."
SHALLAN (Brightness Radiant)
She
rested her freehand against the map. Stormlight poured off her,
illuminating the map in a swirling tempest of Light. She didn't exactly
understand what she was doing, but she rarely did. Art wasn't about
understanding, but about knowing.
***
The one knocking would
be Palona, who had once again noticed that Shallan had skipped dinner.
Shallan sucked in a breath, destroying the image of Veil, recovering
some of the Stormlight from her Lightweaving. "Come, she said. Honestly,
id didn't seem to matter to Palona that Shallan was a storming Knight
Radiant now, she'd still mother her all the--
Adolin stepped in,
carrying a large plate of food in one hand, some books under the other
arm. He saw her and stumbled, nearly dropping it all.
Shallan
froze, then yelped and tucked her bare safehand behind her back. Adolin
didn't even have the decency to blush at finding her practically naked.
He balanced the food in his hand, recovering from his stumble, then
grinned.
"Out!" Shallan said, waving the freehand at him. "Out, out, out!"
skip some...
"Oh
for Damnation's sake, Shallan. Can I come in now? And just so we're
clear, I'm a man and your betrothed, my name is Adolin Kholin, I was
born under the sign of the nine, I have a birthmark on the back of my
left thigh, and I had crab curry for breakfast. Anything else you need
to know?"
"Sure. Fine. Anyway, we aren't alone. Pattern, come here please." She held out her hand, palm up.
He
reluctantly moved down from the wall where he'd been watching. As
always, he made a ripple in whatever he crossed, be it cloth or
stone--like there was something under the surface. His complex,
fluctuating pattern of lines was always changing, melding, vaguely
circular but with surprising tangents.
skip some....
"Anyway," Shallan said. "Pattern, you're to be our chaperone tonight."
"What," Pattern said with a hum, "is a chaperone?"
"That is someone who watches two young people when they are together, to make certain they don't do anything inappropriate."
"Inappropriate?" Pattern said. "Such as . . . dividing by zero?"
skip some...
"Very well, you two," Pattern said. "No mating. NO MATING." He hummed to himself, as if pleased, then sank down onto a plate.
***
Pattern
approached and tried to slide up her illusory dress, but then stopped,
backing away and humming in pleasure at the lie. "I found him!" he
proclaimed. "I found Adolin!"
"I see that, " Shallan said.
"He
came at me," Adolin said, "in the training rooms, screaming that you'd
found the killer. Said that if I didn't come, you'd probably--and I
quote--'go do something stupid without letting me watch.'"
***
"Your imitation is pathetic," Shallan whispered. "Here. Let me show you how it's done."
Shallan
drew in her Stormlight, going alight like a beacon. Things screamed,
pulling away from her. As she stepped around the formation of worried
bridgemen--wading into the blackness at their left flank--figures
extended from her, shapes growing from light. The people from her
recently rebuilt collection.
KALADIN
"Hello, Father," Kaladin said.
The
guardsman finally caught up, shouldering past gawking townspeople and
waving his mace toward Kaladin like a baton. Kaladin sidestepped
absently, then pushed the man so he stumbled farther down the hallway.
"It
is you," Lirin said. Then he scrambled over and caught Kaladin in an
embrace. "Oh, Kal. My boy. My little boy. Hesina! HESINA!"
Kaladin's mother appeared in the doorway a moment later.
***
"I gave you people an order," Kaladin said. "I'm not fond of repeating myself."
"And what," Roshone said, "makes you think you can order anyone around, boy?"
Kaladin
turned back and swept his arm before him, summoning Syl. A bright,
dew-covered Shardblade formed from the mist into his hand. He spun the
Blade and rammed her down into the floor in one smooth motion. He held
the grip, feeling this eyes bleed blue.
Everything grew still.
Townspeople froze, gaping. Roshone's eyes bulged. Curiously, Kaladin's
father just lowered his head and closed his eyes.
"Any other questions?" Kaladin asked.
***
Kaladin
crept through the rains, sidling in a wet uniform across the rocks
until he was able to peek through the trees at the Voidbringers.
Monstrous terrors from the mythological past, enemies of all that was
right and good. Destroyers who had laid waste to civilization countless
times.
They were playing cards.
***
No spoilers ahead..
I can't believe I just finished the 3rd book and there are, what is it now... 7 more to be written?!
I
feel like I feel like I feel drained. I feel like I have come through
so much. This book is by far better than the first two books, in my
opinion. Oathbringer was filled with so freaking much. And yes, the
first two books at 1000 + were filled too but it was just different. I
felt like this book had more. I mean I would never not love the first
two books and have them on my favorites list but this one just sealed
the deal even more. I can't even imagine what else Brandon Sanderson can
write in this world. I'm almost scared to know. Although, I don't think
I will live long enough to finish the series since there are so many
and what 2-3 years in between.
I loved every single character in
this book, even more than I did before. Well, not so much the evil
people but they were great too.
The back and forth stories, the
past, the interludes, they were all perfect. I'm not saying that some
didn't go over my head because all high/epic fantasy does that to me. I
don't care. I will sort it all out some day with re-reads like I always
do. =)
Lord though, the freaking battles! I had to fight off a panic attack! My peeps fought a crazy, bloody battle!
Brandon
Sanderson, thank you for this wonderful book. Thank you for the art
inside and out. Thank you for putting so much effort into this book. I
don't see how you or any other author I love that writes these freaking
murder weapon tomes can think up these worlds.
and that's all I
have to say. Okay, a couple more things. I know that all Stormlight fans
will love this book. If you don't then you fell off the cliff. I don't
know. Now, I'm going to shut-up because this is my longest review to
date and Goodreads isn't going to let me write much more =)
Happy Reading My Wonderful Stormlight friends.
Mel ♥
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1285088346
National Bestseller
Selected as one of NPR’S Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of All Time
The
#1 New York Times bestselling author’s ultimate edition of his wildly
successful first novel featuring his “preferred text”—and including his
special Neverwhere tale, “How the Marquis Got His Coat Back”
Published in 1997, Neverwhere
heralded the arrival of a major talent and became a touchstone of urban
fantasy. Over the years, a number of versions were produced both in the
U.S. and the U.K. Now Gaiman’s preferred edition of his classic novel
reconciles these works and reinstates a number of scenes cut from the
original published books.
Richard Mayhew is a young London
businessman with a good heart whose life is changed forever when he
stops to help a bleeding girl—an act of kindness that plunges him into a
world he never dreamed existed. Slipping through the cracks of reality,
Richard lands in Neverwhere—a London of shadows and darkness, monsters
and saints, murderers and angels that exists entirely in a subterranean
labyrinth. Neverwhere is home to Door, the mysterious girl Richard
helped in the London Above. Here in Neverwhere, Door is a powerful
noblewoman who has vowed to find the evil agent of her family’s
slaughter and thwart the destruction of this strange underworld kingdom.
If Richard is ever to return to his former life and home, he must join
Lady Door’s quest to save her world—and may well die trying.
Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times
bestselling author of more than twenty books, and is the recipient of
numerous literary honors. Originally from England, he now lives in
America. @goodreads
I won this in a Goodreads/Firstreads Giveaway! Yay!
Look at these pictures! Sorry for the darkness. We were in the sunlight but it canceled us out.
Anyhoo!
I am in love with the looks of this little book! It doesn't have a dust
jacket! It's one of my fav hardbacks! I love them without the dust
jackets. I have added a picture of the front and back. I have also added
a picture of just one of the many illustrations through-out the book
and the inside book flap that isn't really a flap but they made it look
like one! Now if I can just love the book! =D 
OMG!
I sat here trying to think where I new Chris Riddell that did the
illustrations through-out this book. As soon as I started and saw the
picture of the older Richard Mayhew it freaking hit me! The picture
looked like a grown up picture of Twig from The Edge Chronicles that
Chris Riddell did the illustrations on =D I loved those books too.
Anyway, this was a dark little book but it also had hope for a man that was hopeless.
Richard
Mayhew is living a life that is boring in my opinion. He goes to work
doing boring work. He has a fiance, Jessica, that announces they are
getting married and pretty much tells him everything to do, what to
wear, etc. She's so beautiful that he just does it and he's a sort of a
push over but I like him.
Once day a girl pops out of a door
when Richard and Jessica are hurrying to a dinner with one of Jessica's
clients. Richard stops to help the girl who is bleeding and pretty much
blows Jessica off. Yay! Richard takes the girl named, Door, to his home
and lets her rest as she doesn't want to be taken to a hospital.
Turns
out these creepy dudes named Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar are after her.
Suddenly Richard is dragged into the world of London Below. It's a very
dark story in London Below. Richard is stuck there trying to help Door
and some others. When he tried to go back home once, he didn't exist so
he was stuck down below.
Richard wrote a diary entry in his head.
Dear
Diary, he began. On Friday I had a job, a fiancee, a home, and a life
that made sense. (Well, as much as any life makes sense.) Then I found
an injured girl bleeding on the pavement, and I tried to be a Good
Samaritan. Now I've got no fiancee, no home, no job, and I'm walking
around a couple hundred feet under the streets of London with the
projected life expectancy of a suicidal mayfly.
But over time, helping these people/creatures, Richard finds
a meaning to his life. When he goes back to London Above, he realizes
it's not where he belongs.
I loved the characters in this book,
even the evil ones were written terrifically. I love, love, loved that
Richard finally found his place in the world. He really is a good guy =)
Happy Reading! Mel ♥
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1314404914
When shipping magnate
Harrison Sinclair's mother catches Gertrude Cadwalader, paid companion
to the light-fingered Mrs. Davenport, returning a pilfered item, she
comes to the wrong conclusion. However, Harrison is eager to mend fences
once he realizes the error. After a real thief starts preying on
society, can Gertrude and Harrison catch the culprit? @goodreads
This is book two which I didn't know at the time but it was fine for me as a stand-alone.
Gertrude works for Mrs. Davenport. I loved the character of Gertrude and Mrs. Davenport was okay, although she had reasons for the way she acts.
There are some funny parts in the book as well as a mystery.
I can't believe Gertrude got herself into a predicament with a dress she was wearing a birdcage under. Do not ask read the book.
Excerpt:
When the thud was immediately accompanied by what sounded like a yelp, Harrison pushed open the door and stepped into the room. He froze on the spot, though, when his gaze went directly to Gertrude, who was standing in the library, rubbing a backside that seemed to be devoid of the expected clothing.
Oh how funny that scene was and I love Harrison. The slow love between Gertrude and Harrison was sweet.
Gertrude and Mrs. Davenport get caught up in something a little sinister but it all comes out in the end and we find out who the real culprit was.
I enjoyed the side characters as well.
Happy Reading!
Mel ♥
*Thank you to Bethany House Publisher for a print copy of this book*
IT'S HERE =) THIS IS THE MAIN PICTURE OF THE PACKED LITTLE BOX ♥
THIS TIME I'M GOING TO WRITE OUT THE WHOLE SPOILER CARD WITH ALL OF THE ITEMS BEFORE SHOWING THE CLOSE-UPS OF THE PICTURES
NOVEMBER 2017
CASTLES, COURTS, AND KINGDOMS
* USE YOUR EXCLUSIVE ELVEN BREAD SOAP FROM FIZZY FAIRY APOTHECARY AND YOU'LL INSTANTLY FEEL AS THOUGH YOU'RE ACCOMPANYING SAM AND FRODO ON THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH MIDDLE EARTH!
* WINTER IS HERE...BE SURE TO PROTECT YOUR LIPS! THIS YUMMY BLACKBERRY MINT LIP BALM, INSPIRED BY GAME OF THRONES AND CREATED EXCLUSIVELY BY GEEK FIRE LABS IS PERFECT FOR THE WINTER MONTHS.
* JOIN THE SECOND ARMY BY WEARING YOUR NEW BROOCH MADE EXCLUSIVELY BY JUNIPER AND IVY DESIGNS. INSPIRED BY LEIGH BARDUGO'S GRISHAVERSE, WE SENT OUT THREE DIFFERENT AND EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS. WHICH ORDER OF GRISHA ARE YOU?
* YOU'LL BY ABLE TO FEND OF DEMENTORS (AND CHILLY DAYS) WITH THIS EXCLUSIVE EXPECTO PATRONUM BEANIE! CREATED BY OWLCRATE JUST FOR YOU. STAY COZY!
* WE HOPE THIS GORGEOUS NOTEBOOK, FEATURING A QUOTE FROM A COURT OF MIST AND FURY, INSPIRES YOU THROUGH DAYS GOOD AND BAD. USE IT TO WRITE DOWN YOUR BIGGEST HOPES AND DREAMS! DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR OWLCRATE BY STELLA'S BOOKISH ART.
* WIL IS THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF A POWER-HUNGRY KING, FORCED TO LIVE IN THE SHADOWS AS A SPY FOR HER KINGDOM. ONE DAY WHEN HER LIFE IS PUT AT RISK. WIL DISCOVERS SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO TURN LIVING THINGS TO GEMSTONE WITH JUST A TOUCH. WHEN THIS NEWFOUND POWER CAUSES TRAGEDY TO OCCUR, WIL FLEES HER HOME IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS AND A CURE. SHE ENDS UP FINDING MORE THAN SHE BARGAINED FOR WHEN SHE MEETS A CURSED PRINCE FROM AN ENEMY KINGDOM. THE GLASS SPARE IS A BEAUTIFUL FANTASY STORY ALL ABOUT THE BONDS OF FAMILY, AND WHERE YOUR LOYALTY LIES. WE ALSO HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SIGNED BOOKPLATE AND LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR LAUREN DESTEFANO AS WELL AS THE EXCLUSIVE GEMSTONE TATTOOS!
HAPPY READING! AND THANKS FOR BEING AWESOME!
~OWLCRATE
I added the cute little card that tells what the December box will be ~ Seize The Day ↑
I'm loving my winter hat (beanie) =)
Mel ♥
Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.
The
Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary
abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and
established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of
justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except
the villains they once overthrew.
Nova has a reason to hate the
Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to
her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and
in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end
them both. @goodreads
THAT was freaking awesome!! 
Nova
is a girl called Nightmare. She's part of the Anarchists group. They
are the villains, but not everything is as it seems. The thing is, the
Anarchists and the "good guys" the Renegades both have bad people in
their groups and good people.
Nova (Nightmare) wants to take the
Renegades down. She was raised by her uncle, Ace after her family
perished. Ace was the leader of the Anarchists.
Both of these groups have powers. I will let you find out about those yourself.
Let me add a little ***SPOILER*** in an excerpt of what happened to cause Nova to hate the Renegades.
Nova had been inspecting some reliquaries she'd found in
one of the smaller chapels when Ace found her and sat her down on a worn
wooden bench. He told her that one of the villain gangs--the
Roaches--had demanded that her father craft them a collection of weapons
using his gift. They had threatened David's wife and daughters if he
didn't meet their expectations.
When her papa began to fall
behind on their requests, he went to the Renegades and begged for
protection. Captain Chromium himself had promised that no harm would
come to him or his family, but only so long as he stopped making weapons
for their enemies.
And so her dad did stop. And the Roaches, in retaliation, sent a hitman after him and his family.
Only,
the Renegades hadn't kept their word. Captain Chromium hadn't kept his
word. They were not there to protect David's family when they needed
their protection the most.
When Ace finished telling this story,
he handed Nova a cup of cold milk and two vanilla wafer cookies taken
from plastic packaging that crinkled deafeningly loud. Nova, six years
old and so small her feet didn't touch the stone floor as she sat on the
bench, ate the cookies and drank the milk without comment. She
remembered not crying. She remembered that in that moment, she had not
felt sad.
She only felt anger.
Blinding, breathless rage.
As
she stood up to leave so she could come to terms with the truth of her
family's deaths, Ace had said simply, practically--"The Roaches were
forty-seven members strong. Last night, I killed them all."
Hell yes he did. Just reading the part when Nova's family was being killed was horrible.
***END OF SPOILERS!!!***
So
one day Nova is on an Anarchists mission to take out one of the
Renegade leaders. Things don't go as planned and she meets the Sentinel.
He's a new hero. He has an R on his suit but he's not with them. You
can meet him in the book 😊
One of the Anarchists pushes Nova to
become a Renegade and find out how to take them down. She becomes
friends with Adrian, the son of the main dudes. She didn't see that
coming. And there are lots of secrets.
Nova finds out a bunch of stuff that could devastate the world if it happens. And then there is Max. He's a secret 😊
The ending blew me away and holy shite balls I'm ready for the next book!! 
Happy Reading! Mel ❤️
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2064583836
